Flourless oatmeal bread recipe: How to make no-flour bread

Getting yourself some fresh, warm, and healthy bread is always good for the soul. Sometimes, though, you don't feel like something heavy or floury. With our fantastic flourless oatmeal bread recipe, we're going to show you how to make a light and healthy vegan bread.

Bread can be easily made without flour, and we're here to show you how.
Bread can be easily made without flour, and we're here to show you how.  © 123RF / Lengel76

Food shortages have become unusually common over the last few years due to Covid-induced panic buying and disruptions to global supply chains.

Flourless bread is not only healthy and cheap, but also doesn't require you to desperately source flour from your local grocery store. How do you make bread without flour, though?

Seed bread, or flourless bread, does not require flour, baking powder, or yeast, but is just as succulent and far more healthy than your standard bread.

Preppy fashion is at the top of the class in latest spring style trend
Fashion Preppy fashion is at the top of the class in latest spring style trend

Rich in fiber, omega-3 fat acids and protein, this delicious alternative is the perfect way to start the day.

With this special TAG24 recipe, we're going to explain how to easily prepare and bake healthy, crunchy, and flourless bread.

Why make bread without flour

Making oatmeal bread without flour is a healthy option, especially when you combine it with the seeds and grains we have included in this recipe. Flour isn't "bad" for you, but it can be quite heavy in your stomach and isn't particularly nutritious.

Flourless bread doesn't only have the added bonus that it is good for you, but also that it can be made gluten free and vegan for those who wish to do so.

It's also incredibly delicious!

Is this a gluten-free bread recipe?

This recipe can easily be made gluten free, though the specific ingredients we have listed would not be fitting for someone who is gluten intolerant or has celiac disease. Regrettably, most commercially available rolled oats or oatmeal include additives that contain gluten.

You can make this recipe gluten free by simply purchasing oats that have been labeled as safe for gluten intolerant and celiac people. You can find them in most supermarkets or health food stores.

Know what's interesting? Oats are actually gluten free in their purest form, and most variants are okay for people with celiac disease, but that doesn't make every brand safe. You should be careful as a result.

Is this flourless bread vegan?

One of the key differences between standard bread and flourless oatmeal bread is that it does not contain any yeast. There is also no milk, eggs, or animal products that you may find in common baked goods. This is a very dense bread, without an effective raising agent.

This recipe is safe for vegans because it does not contain any animal-based or sourced products.

Recipe for no-flour oatmeal bread

This vegan, flourless bread is full of nutrients, nuts, and seeds.
This vegan, flourless bread is full of nutrients, nuts, and seeds.  © 123RF / Mgiuliana27

The following recipe is a quick, easy, and delicious vegan bread made without any flour, yeast, or animal products. Feel free to add any additional nuts or flavorings that you may want. We have kept it as basic (but delicious) as possible.

Oatmeal bread without flour | Ingredients

Ingredients for one loaf (12-inch loaf pan):

  • 1 cup of blanched hazelnuts
  • 2 cups of rolled oats (grainy)
  • 1 tablespoon of psyllium husks
  • 1 cup of sunflower seeds
  • 2/3 cup of flax seeds (coarsely ground)
  • 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 tablespoon of maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons of canola oil
  • 1 1/2 cups of hot water or almond milk

Oatmeal bread without flour | Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease the loaf pan with oil or butter (not if you are vegan), or crumple up baking paper, moisten well, and line the pan with it.

Step 2: In a heated and non-stick pan, gently toast the nuts until they are lightly brown and roasted. Allow the nuts to cool down and then grind them up in a food processor or by hand with a mortar and pestle.

Step 3: Mix the nuts, oats, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, psyllium husks, and salt in a large bowl. Make sure they are thoroughly mixed so you don't get clumps of one particular ingredient.

Step 4: Mix the maple syrup, canola oil, and water in a separate bowl. Add them to the nut mixture and mix everything together thoroughly, making sure there are no dry clumps and that it forms a liquid dough. You may need to add some more water or almond milk so the dough is not too dry.

Step 5: Let the dough rest for at least two hours, or overnight. When resting, keep it covered at room temperature, and if leaving overnight, then put it in the fridge. The longer you let it rest, the denser the bread will be as the seeds and oats will have had time to soak.

Step 6: Pour the dough evenly into your pre-prepared pan and press it down well. Bake in the oven for about 30 to 40 minutes, until the bread has reached a golden brown color and is a little bit crispy. Check that the interior is cooked using a skewer. If it is still wet inside, it may need a bit more time.

Step 7: Once it is ready, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan. You don't need to let it get totally cool, but it should sit in the pan for a while so that it doesn't disintegrate when you take it out. Make sure that it is cooled completely before you slice the bread with a sharp bread knife, or it might collapse.

Pro Tip: To test if the bread is done, you can tap it with a wooden spoon. If it sounds hollow, then it is done.

You don't need to knead flourless bread, as you do not need to stretch or develop any gluten.
You don't need to knead flourless bread, as you do not need to stretch or develop any gluten.  © Nadya Spetnitskaya / Unsplash

How long can you keep flourless bread?

This flourless oatmeal bread can stay fresh for about four to five days if stored in a dry space with little exposure to air. Of course, you can freeze the bread if you want to keep it longer and then defrost it for toast later.

Oatmeal bread, or any bread that is made up of predominantly oats, nuts, and seeds, will actually last longer than normal bread before it goes stale. You just need to remember to keep it wrapped firmly in a paper bag or stored in a proper bread box.

Recipe for flourless oatmeal bread: Final tips

Feel free to vary the type of nuts, grains, and oats that you include in your loaf. You can easily adapt this recipe to fit your dietary needs, and make it even more nutritious with possible additions like pumpkin seeds, walnuts, and sesame seeds.

If you are looking for a healthier and tastier alternative to white bread or sourdough, make sure to try out this recipe for Flourless Oatmeal Bread.

Cover photo: 123RF / Lengel76

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